Beauty, Bias, and the Need for Better Industry Standards

When hair & makeup artist and creative director Heather Nitta told me about her vision for a campaign rooted in diversity and inclusion, I knew I had to be part of it.

As a makeup artist and creative director, she wanted to do something most shoots in Utah don’t even attempt, highlight women of all ages, backgrounds, and skin tones, and make sure every single one of them felt beautiful and seen.

In Utah’s fashion and beauty world, it’s easy to feel like you’re on the outside if you’re not white, young, and fitting into a very narrow ideal. That’s what makes projects like this so important. Heather and I have had so many conversations about how little education there is for HMUAs in this area—especially when it comes to working with models and actresses of color. In these overwhelmingly white spaces, artists aren’t taught how to work with all skin tones and hair textures, and worse, many don’t make the effort to learn. That lack of care is harmful, and it shows.

Heather wanted to do something about it. She used her platform as a makeup artist to launch this campaign, “Inclusivity Utah,” with a message loud and clear: inclusivity is not optional, and beauty should be accessible to everyone, not just those who fit into the narrow mold the industry often caters to.

Our shoot was powerful, joyful, and deeply meaningful. And afterward, we were honored to be featured on ABC4 Utah’s Good Things Utah to talk about the heart behind the campaign and why it matters so much.
Watch the full segment here

This shoot wasn’t just about good photos, it was about changing what beauty looks like in Utah. It was about demanding better from our industry, making space for all kinds of people, and proving that representation isn’t a trend, it’s a responsibility.

Thank you to Heather and every creative who helped bring this movement to life. I hope this is just the beginning.